The quality of minimally processed tomatoes cv. Débora conditioned in two types of packages was evaluated. The fruits were washed and sanitized with a 200 mg L-1 sodium hypochlorite solution. The pulp was cut in cubes (1 cm³), rinsed with a 20 mg L-1 sodium hypochlorite solution, packed in polypropylene (PP) bags or polyethylene terephthalate (PET) cups and stored at 5ºC for eight days. During this period samples were daily retired to evaluate the loss of fresh mass, internal color, texture, pH, contents of soluble solids (SS), titratable acidity (TA) and ascorbic acid. The soluble solids, titratable acidity, SS/TA ratio and pH were significantly affected by the packing type. The cubes packed in cups showed greater content of SS and lower of TA, resulting in a better ratio when compared to the cubes packed in bags. The polyethylene terephthalate (PET) cups were the best package for tomatoes cut in cubes.
Lycopersicon esculentum; minimally processed; storage
